Romania Announces Widespread Measles Outbreak

The Romanian Ministry of Health has announced a nationwide outbreak of measles, after reporting nearly 2,000 new cases across 29 out of 41 counties. Officials stated that this will help boost vaccination rates among vulnerable children. The ministry has identified children aged 9 to 11 months, as well as those who have not completed their vaccination schedule, as the primary targets for the immunization campaign, and has committed to conducting a public awareness campaign to address the current crisis. In a released statement, there was deep regret expressed over the decline in vaccination rates in Romania over the past decade, noting that 78% of eligible children received one dose against measles, while only 62% received two doses of the vaccine.